ATHENS-Youth and adults continue to seek recreational opportunities offered through Athens Recreation, with sports like spring softball showing an 86 percent increase in participation the past four years.
Ben Wiley, director of Cemetery, Parks, and Recreation, recently presented information to the Athens City Council that shows how Athens Recreation programs are growing and bringing in more revenue.
In Fiscal Year 2005, the Recreation Department had $49,740 in revenue from 
concessions, programs, instructor-led classes, rentals, and pool use. In comparison, Wiley and Finance Director Annette Barnes project the revenues from the current fiscal year will be $152,500. The current fiscal year ends Sept. 30.
“I think there are several reasons the participation continues to grow,” Wiley said. “The community is showing great interest and support in our programs. The parents also enjoy being involved with their children. We try to promote our recreation programs in a positive and family oriented manner and at the same time offer healthy competition in our leagues.”
In addition to spring softball, other sports showing significant increases include basketball, which has grown in participation by 47 percent the past three years, adult softball, which has grown 44 percent the last four years, and fall soccer, which has grown 42 percent the last four years.
Currently, fall soccer has 393 children comprising 49 teams. In 2011, there were 277 children involved in fall soccer. In June, when fall soccer registration was underway, one parent posted on the “Athens Recreation Center” Facebook page that, “We passed the soccer fields today and my daughter started crying because she is ready to play again! Coming tomorrow to get her signed up!”
Two areas have shown decreases, which Wiley attributes to changes in team registration. Fall softball went to a true draft format in 2014, and volleyball went to a true draft format this year. Although fall softball saw a decrease from 2013 to 2014 after the change, numbers went up this year to 115 participants comprising 11 teams.
Wiley said these recreational opportunities provide children with not only exercise, but the chance to learn to work as a team and make new friends. Adults can also get exercise benefits and socializing opportunities from programs such as Zumba, archery and karate.
Wiley said his staff and volunteer coaches are vital in providing quality programs the community can enjoy.
“We depend on our staff and volunteers to be good examples for the young people involved,” he said. “We could not grow our programs without their efforts. The support from Mayor Ronnie Marks and the Athens City Council has been a factor in our programs growing as well.”
For more information on programs, go online at www.athensal.us and click “Parks and Recreation” under the Departments menu, or go on Facebook to “Athens Recreation Center.”
